Among the coral and the roots that hung from the ceiling were charms made from knotted hair and bones. They twirled lazily in the air, animated by the movement of the dancers. As Finn danced her past one of the creations – she guessed it was a charm, though she didn’t know for sure – Faye reached out for it, curious and yet with trepidation: it had a dark energy, and yet she wanted to touch it.
Finn grasped her hand and held it.
‘Do not touch,sidhe-leth,’ he warned as they twirled away. ‘That is not for you.’
‘What are they?’ she asked as they danced. Faye was feeling more and more giddy, and yet she didn’t want to stop. The dance was intoxicating.
‘Magic.’ Finn smiled mysteriously.
‘What kind of magic?’ She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to centre herself, trying to focus.
‘Faerie magic,’ he replied, laughing. ‘It is not your concern.’
‘But I am half fae, so you tell me. Aren’t I allowed to know? Did my mother know?’ Moddie had been taught the faerie magic, so Finn had told her. ‘Is my mother here, now?’ The thought suddenly struck Faye, and she opened her eyes, gazing around her at the blur of faces and bodies for Moddie.
‘No,’ he answered crisply.
‘No, she isn’t here, or no, I am not allowed to know about faerie magic?’ she needled him, trying to find clarity in her thoughts. Some deep part of her knew that she was under enchantment, and that while she was in Murias, she could get Finn to answer her questions…if only she remembered how.
‘Both,’ he answered, and kissed her cheek. ‘Enjoy the dance, my sweet one. You do not need to ask any more questions.’
Again, the lull of faerie descended on her, as if it was a drink and she was getting more and more intoxicated. Faye felt a rush of pleasure fill her as Finn kissed her, and she melted into his arms once again.
As they danced, the panoply of faerie creatures continued to amaze Faye. A frog creature, a naked, otherworldly beauty dressed only in an elaborate crown of pearls, with webbed feet and glistening green and brown spotted legs, danced delicately yet unrelentingly fast with a slim young man who wore a baroque face mask that was as jewelled as her necklace, and a jewelled band around his neck that suggested a collar.
He was human, Faye was almost sure; other than the mask and collar, his chest was bare, and he wore loose trousers in a dark green material. His chest puffed in and out rapidly with the effort of keeping up with the faerie.
Faye watched the frog mistress for some moments as she toyed with her human pet. At the edge of her awareness, Fayefelt a sense of unease, but she was so far submerged in the lull of Murias that she was unable to examine her feelings any further.
Finn smiled and bowed to the frog queen and her partner as they passed. Just before the frog queen grasped him by the shoulders and leaped into the centre of the crowd, laughing, the young man’s outstretched hand glanced onto Faye’s palm, and his eyes, through the slits in the mask, met hers.
As soon as they touched, Faye felt a jolt of pain all the way through her body, like being cut in two. She pulled her hand away. Panic filled her; the eyes that had held hers, she could swear, were full of pain. Was there an entreaty there, a cry for help? But before she could say anything, or hold on to him, the frog queen had dragged him deeper into the crowd.
‘Who…who was that? With the frog queen?’
Finn smiled, stroked her face and took her hand. His touch calmed her immediately. ‘Her consort, just as you are mine,’ he replied simply. ‘Do not worry. They come here willingly, like you.’
Then, Faye recognised Finn’s sister, the faerie queen of Murias, Levantiana, approaching. Levantiana danced with a young human man – barely more than twenty, Faye guessed – who seemed frail, but who still gazed at the faerie queen as if she was the gleaming spark at the centre of all things, and he couldn’t believe his luck that he was the one holding on to her brightness. He wore a mask, as did many of the faeries.
‘Good evening,sidhe-leth.’ Levantiana nodded at her brother, but she addressed Faye. ‘How delightful that you are joining us at the faerie ball.’
‘I am…I am honoured to be here,’ Faye replied, unsure of what she should say. She gazed at Levantiana’s dance partner, wanting to reach out to him, wondering if he was here of his own free will, wondering who he was and how he, too, had made contact with the fae realm and its queen. But the young manavoided her eyes. Under and among her intoxication at being in Murias she sensed a black thread of doubt weaving itself silently; she felt the tug of its shadowy teeth, and felt uneasy.
‘Indeed, you are.’ Levantiana raised an eyebrow. ‘Brother, I can see the appeal of this one. She makes a comely whore.’
Rather than defend Faye’s honour at his sister’s insult, Finn merely nodded. Faye felt as if she had been slapped in the face.
‘How dare you!’ Faye exclaimed, but Levantiana merely chuckled.
‘I dare, sweet one,’ she replied condescendingly. ‘This is my realm. I may do and speak exactly as I wish.’
‘You know so little of us. Stay. Absorb our ways, our culture. Until you know us, you cannot understand,’ Finn cautioned Faye. ‘My sister expresses herself in a particular manner. Remember that you are my consort, not hers.’ He kissed her, and though Faye spluttered with anger, she felt herself growing wet again, and felt the shameless urge to submit to Finn in whatever way he pleased.
‘Youaremy comely little whore,’ he murmured as he kissed her, and Faye was deeply ashamed at the arousal that his use of the phrase sparked in her. She was aware that Levantiana and her young male dance partner were watching them kiss. Desire washed over her, and she parted her legs readily as Finn slipped his hand between them and stroked the jewelled triangle that only barely covered her. ‘See? Dressed like a whore and ready to please,’ he chuckled, his voice thick with desire. ‘I might have to have you here, now, while everyone watches. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ he asked, as he slid his finger into her. She gasped and arched her back against his hand which pressed firmly against her lower back.
‘Yes,’ she breathed, shameless and burning with desire.
As she opened her eyes, her gaze alighted on one of the cages that dotted the vast ballroom. They were big enough to hold aperson, standing up, and, inside, naked dancers gyrated to the music.
